Explorer's Gazette
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EEXXPPLLOORREERR’’SS GAZETTE GAZETTE Published Quarterly in Pensacola, Florida USA for the Old Antarctic Explorers Association Uniting All OAEs in Perpetuating the History of U.S. Navy Involvement in Antarctica Volume 7, Issue 1 Old Antarctic Explorers Association, Inc Jan-Mar 2007 Photo by Charlie Henke Pensacola, Florida Gus Shinn and Que Sera Sera 50th Anniversary of First Aircraft Landing at the Geographic South Pole The First Time was Pretty Hairy Compiled by Billy-Ace Baker N 31 OCTOBER 1956, GUS SHINN BECAME THE FIRST Planning for this event started in May 2005 at the Opilot to land an aircraft at the Geographic South Pole. Antarctic Deep Freeze Association reunion in Biloxi, MS On 31 October 2006, the Gulf Coast Group (GCG) of when Gus declined, out of modesty, to be interviewed by a th the OAEA helped Gus celebrate the 50 Anniversary of this National Science Foundation video crew. It was determined major milestone in aviation and Antarctic history. The at that time if there was to be a 50th Anniversary celebration celebration was hosted by the National Museum of Navy in Pensacola we would have to start working on Gus to Aviation and was open to the public. Over 300 people allow us to honor him, his crew, and Que Sera Sera. It took attended the 1 p.m ceremony held in the Blue Angel Atrium almost a year and a lot of arm-twisting before Billy of the museum. The speakers, local dignitaries, and guests Blackwelder and I finally talked Gus into a small ceremony attended a luncheon commencing at 11 a.m. in the based on our pitch that it would be more of an honor for us Museum’s Cubi Point Café. Many of the GCG members, to give him the recognition that he has earned. friends, and families also attended the luncheon. See 50th Anniversary on page 4. E X P L O R E R ‘ S G A Z E T T E V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 1 J A N − M A R 2 0 0 7 satisfactory and in those areas where you feel that the P R E S I D E N T ’ S C O R N E R OAEA could be improved. John Lamont West—OAEA President To all those who have lost a loved one, please accept my heartfelt sympathy and my condolences as you pass TO ALL OAEs—As we move into through these tough times. My prayers are with you. To 2007, I wish a very prosperous and those under the weather, I wish you a speedy recovery. happy year to each of you. As our Until next time, take care organization continues to evolve, the opportunity for members to step forth and serve is always available. The Old Antarctic Explorers Association, Inc. is seeking a member to serve as the \ Election Committee Chairman. This Chairman will be responsible for establishing the procedures for conducting OAEA elections by U. S. Mail. The Chairman will work closely with the Chairman of the By-Laws Committee and with the members of the Board of Directors to develop the procedures for conducting the 2008 and future elections. The OAEA Election Committee Chairman will be responsible for identifying the members to serve on the 2008 election committee and for submitting the names of the prospective committee members to the OAEA Board of Directors for approval. The OAEA Election Committee Chairman will serve for one election cycle. The desire is to GROWLERS & BERGY BYTES nominate a new chairman at each Symposium. Please Feature Stories, Odds & Ends, Collected, Compiled & submit your request to serve as the 2008 Election Written by Billy-Ace Penguin Baker Page Committee Chairman to me at [email protected]. th The 2006 OAEA Reunion/Symposium “Memory Cover Story⎯Pensacola, FL—50 Anniversary of the first aircraft landing at the Geographic South Pole.….1, 4 & 5 Book” has been published and by the time you read this § you should have received your copy if you ordered one. Letters. Praise, criticisms, and assorted comments.…..…6 We certainly appreciate the tremendous effort involved to ‘ Brunswick, ME—New England Chapter Meeting……… 8 ensure that we received a quality product. Your patience § and understanding while awaiting receipt of your copy of Philadelphia, PA—OAE Bill Romey Honored by American the “Memory Book” is greatly appreciated by those Geoscience Teachers………………………… …………..10 § involved in its compilation, publication, and distribution. Denver, CO—Carlton Walker South Pole Builder resigns On 17 January, I appointed Jim Landy to serve on the from RPSC, .………………………… ….…………….…10 OAEA Board of Directors to fill a vacancy that was § Oklahoma City, OK—Mike Walsh in Drag …….………14 created when Walt Walters resigned. Welcome aboard § Jim. Cambridge, UK—My Recent Antarctic Travels.….. .……15 Jim O’Connell and his committee are making plans for § Norfolk, VA—Tidewater Group Meeting ….….…….…16 the 2008 Symposium to be held in Pensacola, FL. As the § date for the symposium approaches, Jim will be posting Pensacola, FL—Gulf Coast Group Meetings…….……..19 § additional information. Pensacola, FL—FY-2006 Accounting Statement….……21 Plans for the OAEA 2010 Symposium to be held in § San Antonio, TX are also in the embryonic stage. There DISCLAIMER STATEMENT have been a number of exploratory e-mails exchanged by The Explorer’s Gazette is published quarterly by the Old the members volunteering to assist in hosting the Antarctic Explorers Association. Opinions expressed by the symposium in San Antonio. More information will be editorial staff or contained in articles submitted by members, forthcoming. and non-members are not official expressions of the OAEA As your president of the Old Antarctic Explorers nor does the mention of books, products, or events constitute Association, I herewith solicit your recommendations and endorsement by the OAEA. suggestions concerning those areas that you perceive as 2 E X P L O R E R ‘ S G A Z E T T E V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 1 J A N − M A R 2 0 0 7 The Explorer’s Gazette is the official publication of the Old Antarctic Explorers Association, Inc. National Headquarters 10819 Berryhill Road Pensacola, FL 32506 USA Phone 850 456 3556 January Events And is published four times annually 30 Jan 1774 Capt Cook reaches a new furtherest south—1130 miles from the Pole. Editor 27 Jan 1820 Von Bellingshausen sights the continental Billy-Ace Baker ice shelf near Princess Martha Land. Editorial Assistants 25 Jan 1841 Ross sights Mount Erebus and names it Gus Shinn High Island. Kerry Konrad 14 Jan 1911 Amundsen arrives at the Bay of Whales. 29 Jan 1947 Trigger Hawkes pilots the first plane from Editor Emeritus the USS Philippine Sea to Little America Jim O’Connell with RADM Byrd aboard during Highjump. February Events Administrative Offices 08 Feb 1821 Aurora reaches Yankee Harbor after two 4615 Balmoral Drive months of looking for South Shetlands. Pensacola, FL 32504 USA 16 Feb 1912 First member of Capt Robert Scott’s South Phone: 850 478 6222 Pole Party, Petty Officer Edgar Evans, dies. 01 Feb 1930 Sir Hubert Wilkins makes his last flight of Association Officers the season. 07 Feb 1952 Eduardo Andrew and Guillermo Campbell President – John Lamont West fly from Argentina to Deception Island in Executive VP – Henry Storm two Catalina seaplanes. 17 Feb 1986 First Korean Antarctic base King Sejong Secretary/Treasurer – Jim O’Connell Station built on King George Island. Life Director – Billy-Ace Baker March Events Past President/Director – Jim Eblen 01 Mar 1839 Charles Wilkes, US Exploring Expedition, Director – Marty Diller reaches Antarctica. Director – Buz Dryfoose 05 Mar 1839 After only five days Wilkes abandons his Director – Steve Edelman first voyage to Antarctica. Two of his ships Director – Ed Hamblin remain in Antarctic waters for three more Director – Dave Hazard weeks before turning back. Director – Bill Spindler 17 Mar 1912 Capt L.E.G. “Titus” Oates dies. Director – Jim Landy 29 Mar 1912 Capt Scott, Bowers, and Doctor Wilson die. Their bodies are discovered 8 months later. Chaplain – Denis Casey 27 Mar 1965 PM-3A reactor shutdown due to feedwater Historian – Billy-Ace Baker control system malfunction. \ 3 E X P L O R E R ‘ S G A Z E T T E V O L U M E 7, I S S U E 1 J A N − M A R 2 0 0 7 th 50 Anniversary From page 1 31 October 2006 as “Gus Shinn Day”. A copy of the Congressional Record for Vice Admiral Gerald Hoewing, the second session of the Proceedings President and CEO of the Naval and Debates of the 109th congress on 28 Aviation Museum Foundation, opened September 2006, at which Florida the ceremony with the reading of a letter House of Representative member Jeff from the National Geographic Society. Miller rose and extolled details of the The Society also sent a large framed historic occasion was also displayed. reproduction of Que Sera Sera that Billy Blackwelder served as the appeared in an edition of the Society Master of Ceremonies on stage while magazine shortly after the historic Gary Skaar stood at a podium in the flight. The ceremony also included a Que Sera Sera and crew th wings and handled out presentation presentation by the 109 Military Airlift items. Immediately after the plane halted— Wing of the US Air Force, current Many of the presentations went to with engines running to avoid a freeze- conductor of USAP flight operations in Gus Shinn, but one presentation was to up (a practice still followed to this Antarctica.